Randall Model 5 date help

[Silly Rabbit]

I just bought this and can’t seem to pin date down
1976-1986? Wish I could narrow it down some
4 thin one thick spacer arrangement
early included S stamp? Probably not separate S, I’m not sure?
im thinking sheath is incorrect, right?
thanks!

 

[eveled]

Nice knife!

 

[zanussi01]

Silly Rabbit,
Your estimate looks to be about right in regards to the age of the knife. Spacers indicate 77-84.
The thick center spacer (which is supposed to be blue) was known to fade on the knives built in the early 80's,(1980-84)
(Yours looks to be reddish,mine are more of a greyish green)
This was changed to the "all thin" style in about '84,so it is no newer than that.
I think the compass is right,I dont have my notes or reference book handy,so going on memory.

The sheath is incorrect,this one has the Randall snaps which only started in January 1995.
It is a "Sullivan" sheath,the one it should have would be a "Johnson Rough Back".
Ask "Tunefink" if he has one available,he may be able to source the correct one for you.
Nice knife,do you plan on using it?
Hope this helps

 

[Silly Rabbit]

Thanks so much for the input!
I have been on the hunt for a Bradford Angier configured model 5 for about a decade, this one caught my eye
I have a few Randalls but only use one of them, a model 19, this one may replace it as a user but I’m not sure I can bring myself to do it
I will definitely want to pair it with a proper sheath, I hate the mis-match, I see the “Tunefink“ website, I’m going to email him thanks
I was told by the seller that the history he was aware of puts it at 82 (just a best guess approximate) which I guess is right in line with your fading spacer information

 

[Silly Rabbit]

I just found this documented 1981, is it newer or older than subject?

 

[zanussi01]

SR,I believe the 5-5 may be a little older than your 5-6,based purely on the non-faded spacers*(see below)
Dating Randalls isnt an exact science,documents like that with the 5-5 are not common.
Usually at best you can get "bookends".
In the case of your 5-6,I would still say 1980-84.

*Here is the kicker;as I understand it,the spacers are cut and stored in little boxes on the assembly bench.
This box is topped up as stock depletes,so the first washers in are usually the last out.
This means that the 5-5 above could have been assembled with older stock spacers,while your 5-6
may well have been made the same day with newer spacer stock.

The 5-6 would make a great user indeed,mine is!
Another sheath option would be a Spec-Ops Brand Combat Master (Short version)
This will take a 6 inch blade no worries.

Hope this helps

 

[Silly Rabbit]

Excellent analysis thanks, I may peek at that sheath since Tunefink doesn’t have a sheath for me and it may take some time to come upon a proper one

 

[zanussi01]

No worries mate,glad to help.